This morning I ventured out alone for the first time since coming to Korea. I've always had another teacher with me, but today it was just ME :) I started off by going to the bank to wire money home. I have no idea what they said, what they wrote, but somehow I wired my paycheck to Ohio. Then I hopped a cab to head downtown.
People take cabs and the English language for granted. I sure did until I got here. I did the ole hand lift, universal for "I need a taxi" and 10 taxis RACED to the corner I was standing on, honking and yelling at each other. So I get in the cab and say "YMCA downtown". This is supposed to get me to the shopping district I want to go to. The taxi driver had NO clue where he was taking me, but instead of admitting it, he just kept driving anyways. I saw a store I recognized called Shinsagae, the most expensive department store I've seen here, hopped out, and took ANOTHER cab to where I was originally supposed to go. Taxi drivers here drive with one hand on the horn, one hand on their cell phones, and the most insane driving ability I've ever seen. The only thing I know how to say to them is "MaeGok Dong" which is my neighborhood and gets me home, and "YMCA downtown". That's it.
I got downtown in one piece, but nothing opens in Korea until 11 and it was only 10:30 so I wandered around a bit. I must have wandered into the section of town that makes all the Korean traditional dresses, because I saw store after store of the beautiful dresses, so that was cool. Around 11 I head back to the area I know, and mosey around a bit. I get my first entertaining glimpse of Korean clothes, and I think it's safe to say I won't be buying any. Ever. I think no Korean woman will put something on unless it's covered in bows, sparkles, sequins, really short, or really tight. Seriously.
I ended up going to Home Plus and buying Asher a sweet ass Korean puppy toilet, like a littler box but only for dogs, for the whopping price of $6. Home was safely reached, and the kick ass cab driver even dropped me off RIGHT at my door.
And thank God it's Friday!
No comments:
Post a Comment